JESUS PRAYS

The Prayer of Christ

James Montgomery once said, “Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, unuttered or expressed.” John chapter 17 is the not The Lord’s Prayer, but is referred to Jesus’ High Priestly prayer, a prayer that offers a glimpse into the Lord’s heart. It focuses on a series of relationships that paint a picture of the beauty of Jesus’ love for us and how God expects believers to live.

Let us Pray.

THE PRAYER OF CHRIST

John 17:1–26

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.[a] 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them[b] in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself,[c] that they also may be sanctified[d] in truth.

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Jesus’ prayer here is chapter 17 focuses on 4 different types of relationships.

I. RELATIONSHIP OF THE FATHER TO THE SON —vv. 1–5

A. SONship of the Lord—v. 1. Reveal God’s glory through Christ. Through this, God would be glorified.

Christ’s ultimate mission was not to save man but to glorify God – it is thru saving man that God is glorified

Everything we do should be to follow Christ’s example and what we do what we say Glorifies God

B. Sovereignty of the Lord—v. 2. Through His redemption, Christ would give eternal life to all who trust in Him.

Over all flesh – even future – His sovereignty is still in place

C. Salvation of the Lord—v. 3. Eternal life through the only true God and Jesus Christ.

To know – Greek word ginosko – is more than head information; it’s intimate, personal relationship type knowledge

There is only One God and only One way to God – through Jesus

John 14:1–6 – “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;[a] believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”[c] 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

D. Status of the Lord—v. 4-5.

Jesus has finished His ministry on earth and is close to finishing His mission so His desire is to return to the Father.

“I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to”—LB.

“And now, Father, reveal my glory as I stand in your presence, the glory we shared before the world began”—LB.

Genesis 1:26 – Then God said, “Let us make man[a] in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Daniel 4:25 – that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.

John 1:3 – All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.

He did everything God asked Him to do – He is leaving nothing undone or unfinished.

Jesus starts off His prayer with the Relationship of the Father to the Son, now He turns His prayer to a different relationship.

II. RELATIONSHIP OF THE SON TO BELIEVERS—vv. 6–12

Believers are described as those who have obedience, faith, and knowledge. But Jesus prays for His believers, then and now to have two more gifts of God’s grace – protection and unity.

A. They Obeyed and Accepted—vv. 6–8. Though many rejected Christ, many did accept. Note the results to those who accepted—

John 1:12 – But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

We are adopted into the family of God,

This was the closing words of our adoption - with all rights, responsibilities, and privileges and subject to all obligations of a child.

Same goes for us with God –

Jesus’ ministry was complete – all the words You gave to Me – I gave to them and they accepted them

B. They Belong to you —vv. 9–10. This time He is only praying for believers –

The Living Bible states it this way - And all of them, since they are mine, belong to you; and you have given them back to me with everything else of yours, and so they are my glory!

In our failures and our faults, when we fall short – because of His love for us He calls us His Glory

C. Attachment—vv. 11–12. Christ was very close to His followers. He was concerned with their spiritual and physical welfare.

Jesus lost none of them. Those that believed Jesus kept and protected, the only disciple was “lost” was Judas – was not a genuine disciple who believed

III. RELATIONSHIP OF BELIEVERS TO THE WORLD —vv. 13-19

A. Asking—vv. 15–19. Note the request:

1. Protection—vv. 15–17. Protect them from Satan’s power.

Jesus reminds his disciples and us in this prayer that while we may be in the world we are not of the world, we are sanctified, haziazo, to set apart for God’s use

2. Purity—vv. 18–19. Make them holy through My words. Make them holy through the truth. What is the truth?

John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 8:32, 36 – and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Unity in the church is to be patterned after the unity of the triune Godhead so the world can see how believers dwell in the Lord and in the Father

IV. RELATIONSHIP OF BELIEVERS TO THE FATHER – vv. 20-26

A. Plan—v. 20. Praying not only for His followers at that time, but for all Christians in the future. Even for us today!

C. Perfection—v. 21. Notice the importance of unity—Acts 2:1. All gathered together for one reason.

Psalm 133:1 – Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

Unity is extremely important to God – but its spiritual unity and not organizational unity.

Pastor Jake and Stratton Church of God

Volleyball, Fall Fest, NOW

Unity is for the Glory of God -

D. Possession—vv. 22–23. Christ possessed God’s glory and power. He shared it with His followers. BY BEING PERFECT, HE PROVED GOD’S GLORY. We may share in the glory of God.

E. Plea—v. 24. It was Christ’s desire that His followers be with Him in heaven.

John 14:3 – And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also

F. Personality—vv. 25–26. The personality of God was revealed through Christ. Through Christ the world could see God. God was in Christ. Christ was in man, showing God’s plan and power.

Principles

• Our relationship to Jesus is the foundation for a biblical view of prayer.

• Living in the world does not mean being part of the world.

• For Christians, infiltration is a better strategy than isolation.

• Unity and harmony in the church serve as a witness to the world.

Applications

• Learn to be a finishing Christian, especially in family and ministry projects.

• Trust God’s protection for your spiritual and physical life.

• Fulfill God’s will for the church by working to keep its unity.

How does your life glorify God?

Do we finish what God has called us to do like Jesus did, or do we quit, make excuses, pass the job onto someone else? We are called the finish the race, to do all the God has called us to do – are you?

How has God set you apart for His use?

As Christians we are called to infiltrate and not isolate – where is God calling you to infiltrate and bring His Word and His Love?

How can you more actively promote spiritual unity so God can be glorified?